The cardiology team at Trinity Health System welcomes its two newest members.

STEUBENVILLE — Trinity Health System announces the expansion of its cardiology group to include two interventional cardiologists.

Gregory Suero Abreu, M.D., and Triston Smith, M.D., who most recently practiced at Wheeling Hospital, have agreed to join the Trinity Health System family.

What this means for the hospital’s cardiovascular program is the ability to offer a new service that is less invasive than open heart surgery. The best treatment option for people in need of aortic valve replacement is open-heart surgery, but for those at high risk opening the heart is too dangerous. Now there is hope; it’s called TAVR, or transcatheter aortic valve replacement. With TAVR, a pen-hole sized incision allows a new valve to be inserted through a catheter, providing a less invasive procedure that leads to faster recovery at home. With the addition of these two qualified physicians, Trinity Health System will soon be able to offer TAVR, giving high-risk patients hope for a longer life.

“The addition of Drs Suero and Smith to our cardiology team brings us the expertise to develop a state-of-the-art structural heart program,” said Dr. Rick Greco, president of the Medical Group Enterprise at Trinity Health System. “This new service for our community will provide the option for minimally invasive procedures as an alternative to open heart surgery for valve, aortic replacement and other procedures.

“These procedures are rapidly becoming the preferred treatment option for people in need of aortic valve replacement, especially for those at high risk and more invasive surgery is too dangerous.”

Abreu completed his medical education at Instituto Tecnolegico de Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He completed his internal medicine residency as well as cardiovascular and interventional cardiology fellowships at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. Abreu is board certified in interventional cardiology, cardiovascular disease, nuclear cardiology, echocardiography and internal medicine.

Smith graduated valedictorian from the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences located in Santa Clara, Cuba. He completed a human physiology fellowship at St. George’s University School of Medicine in St. George’s Grenada. He completed his internal medicine residency with Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh and Temple University School of Medicine. Smith continued his education with a general cardiology fellowship followed by an interventional cardiology fellowship, both with Allegheny Medical Center, Allegheny Health Network and Temple University School of Medicine. Smith is board certified in adult and interventional cardiology, echocardiography and nuclear cardiology.

Both will provide services in Trinity’s Belmont County location and at the main campus in Steubenville. To schedule an appointment, call 800-318-1794.